hapter 6
At ten o’clock that night, Charles arrived home. He had expected Yolanda to be waiting for him in the living room. That was how it had been for the past two years.
But tonight, she wasn’t there. He tossed his coat to a nearby maid.
The maid’s sharp eyes caught the lipstick marks on the coat. Hastily, they covered it up, pretending not to notice.
Everyone in the mansion knew Charles had a mistress, but no one dared to mention it aloud.
“Where’s Yolanda?” Charles asked.
“Mrs. Sinclair hasn’t returned since she went out this afternoon,” the maid replied.
Charles nodded. Just as he was about to go upstairs, the living room door opened. Yolanda had come back.
Her hair was a little messy. She bent down to change her shoes, showing off her long legs.
Charles noticed the faint flush on her cheeks from drinking and frowned. “You drank?”
This had never happened before. The Grant family didn’t teach women to drink outside; if they drank, it was always in front of their husbands.
Yolanda was sober by now. When she saw the time, she felt a little panicked.
Her ingrained schedule made her drive back quickly, but at the doorstep, she found it funny. Whether she came home early or late, no one really cared.
She passed by Charles, and he caught the faint scent of alcohol on her. He reached out and pulled her close.
“Drinking your troubles away?” he joked. “Is there anything bothering you that you can’t tell
me?”
Charles always spoke so casually. He wasn’t heartless toward Yolanda, but he never took initiative either. Even with his affairs, he made sure she retained her dignity.
Both of them had been raised in prominent families and knew some things shouldn’t be exposed.
Yolanda thought this was good. At least later, when she went elsewhere for resources, people would give her respect knowing she was Charles’s wife.
11:29 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 6
She pushed Charles away. “It’s about the studio.”
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She didn’t really need to; he let go automatically. He wasn’t fond of touching her. The last time they were intimate had been two months ago.
Yolanda had a perfect face, both innocent and seductive, but her personality was rigid. In the industry, there were plenty of women trained by their families to follow the rules, and Charles was long bored of them.
“Your little studio hasn’t collapsed yet?” His tone was flat as he walked upstairs, pulling out his phone, seemingly replying to someone.
Yolanda felt a pang in her chest. She followed him upstairs into the bedroom and saw a smile in his eyes as he spoke gently on the phone. No doubt–it was Sophie.
When he noticed her, the smile in his eyes faded slightly. He hung up and asked, “Something you need?”
Yolanda tucked her hair behind her ear and spoke softly, “Starlight Entertainment under Sinclair Group–I want to pull some resources from it.”
Charles held his phone, his gaze on her.
Yolanda rarely made requests. Now, her expression was a little awkward, but she looked more alive than usual.
For some reason, he smiled. “Alright. Just don’t get too greedy.”
“Thank you,” she said, then turned to grab clothes from the closet to shower.
He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, kissing her neck. “Being so polite tonight? Shouldn’t asking for this stuff be normal?”
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but the next second, she caught the scent of another woman’s perfume on him.
Charles had never been stingy with sweet talk; charming women was as easy for him as playing with a dog.
Yolanda should have seen through it long ago.
At that moment, Charles’s phone rang again, the screen flashing Sophie’s name.
Yolanda saw it, but pretended not to.
Charles kissed her on the cheek. “It’s work. I need to head out for some overtime.”
She said nothing, lowering her head as she stepped toward the bathroom. Probably fearing he might change his mind, she repeated, “Tomorrow I want to meet a few directors from Starlight Entertainment.”
Charles didn’t stop. To him, it was all trivial. Sinclair Group was a huge company, and Starlight Entertainment was just a tiny, tiny division.
“No problem,” he said. “Just don’t hook up with young actors like other women do.”
After saying this, he seemed to realize something. After all, he himself was exactly that kind of person. He thought women in bed should at least be a little passionate to be fun.
With a faint chuckle, he added, “Though sometimes the younger ones are more energetic- you could try it too.”
His jokes were always like this–half–smiling, half–derisive, completely humiliating Yolanda’s feelings.
He knew full well that women from the Grant family never cheated.
Once Charles left, Yolanda grabbed her phone and contacted a director at Starlight Entertainment named Sean Anderson. “Mr. Anderson, it’s me, Tessa Gilbert.”
Tessa Gilbert was a stage name Yolanda had used before. Because the Grant family had so many rules, she had prepared this name when she decided to team up with Megan in the entertainment industry.
Directors who knew her real identity were careful not to say anything indiscreet.
“Tomorrow I’d like to bring someone for an audition,” she continued on the call. “Alright, thank you.”
After hanging up, she looked out the window and took a deep breath.
Yolanda had known Charles for fifteen years and was intimately familiar with everything about him. To leave him completely would be excruciating.
She could pretend to be oblivious and continue living as a titled socialite, but she would despise herself for it.
She asked Megan for Ian’s contact information and tried to add him on WhatsApp. Ian initially refused.
Realizing she had forgotten to say who she was, she sent the request again: [lan, it’s Yolanda.]
This time, he accepted.
11:29 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 6
…
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Yolanda: [Tomorrow, come with me to meet a director. He’s casting a supporting male role.]
Ian: [Okay.]
Looking at his brief reply, Yolanda thought Ian was handsome but far too cold in temperament.
11:29 Wed, Sep 10
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
:
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Part 1: The Discovery of BetrayalYolanda Grant’s marriage was built on patience, sacrifice, and quiet endurance — but that illusion shattered in one night. It was late when she arrived at a dark, empty alley after receiving a mysterious message with an address. At first, she thought it was a misunderstanding. After all, her husband Charles Sinclair — a man of wealth, power, and refined taste — would never lower himself to something so vulgar. But when she saw him holding a young woman in his arms, kissing and touching her like a man possessed, every ounce of denial drained from her. Charles, the proud and disciplined businessman, was cheating — and in a filthy alleyway, no less.Part 2: The Scene of HumiliationFrom the safety of her car, Yolanda watched as the scene unfolded. The woman clinging to Charles was frail, trembling, and emotional, like a flower blooming in the mud. The surroundings — the stained floor, damp walls, and suffocating darkness — mocked everything Charles had always claimed to be. This wasn’t just infidelity; it was degradation. Yolanda’s mind swirled with disbelief. Her husband, who obsessed over class and perfection, had become a man of impulse and dirt. She didn’t confront him or make a scene; she didn’t even cry. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, numb, realizing that her marriage was already over in spirit.Part 3: Two Years of DevotionAs she sat there, flashes of the past flooded her mind. Two years of marriage — two years of her trying to please him in every way. She had known from the start that Charles didn’t love her. On their wedding day, he had made it painfully clear that his heart already belonged to another woman. Still, Yolanda married him out of hope, out of love, out of the foolish belief that devotion could melt even the coldest heart. She gave up her career, her ambitions, and her independence, just to prove she was worthy of him. She cared for him like a nurse for her patient — cooking his meals, planning his wardrobe, and tending to every detail of his life. And in return, she got nothing but distance and silence.Part 4: The Breaking PointNow, watching him entwined with another woman, everything she had built inside her — the patience, the sacrifice, the illusion — collapsed. The man she had once called her husband had become unrecognizable. He had torn off his noble mask and revealed himself as nothing more than a beast driven by desire. Yolanda felt like she’d been slapped, her dignity shattered into pieces. But instead of screaming or crying, she felt an eerie calm. Her pain was too deep to express. All she could think was: This marriage must end.Part 5: Charles’s UneaseWhile Yolanda drove home, Charles suddenly sensed that something was wrong. The headlights of a passing car illuminated his face, and a chill ran down his spine. He didn’t know whose car it was, but unease stirred in his chest. The girl in his arms whimpered for his attention, but his mind was already elsewhere. Straightening his clothes, he pulled away coldly. “That’s enough for tonight,” he said flatly. “The company’s got big projects. I can’t afford divorce rumors right now.” His words revealed not love, but calculation — every move guided by image and control. The girl, blinded by her feelings, agreed softly, claiming she would wait. But to Charles, it was just another temporary indulgence.Part 6: The Return HomeWhen Yolanda returned home, the villa felt colder than ever. She had just come out of the shower when Charles entered the bedroom, carrying his jacket. He looked as immaculate as always — tall, handsome, commanding — but tonight, his arrogance seemed cruel. On his pristine white shirt, Yolanda noticed a faint smear of pink lip gloss. She had never worn lip gloss; she hated its stickiness. That small, shiny mark told her everything she needed to know. As she dried her hair, she kept her expression neutral, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing her pain.Part 7: The Cold ConversationCharles glanced at her and asked casually, “When did you get back?”“This afternoon,” she replied.He loosened his tie, unbuttoning his shirt as if nothing had happened. “I was out playing golf tonight,” he added. The lie rolled off his tongue effortlessly. Through the reflection in the window, Yolanda saw the dirt on his back — proof that golf wasn’t the only game he’d been playing. With quiet fury, she shot back, “Then I guess you scored plenty of holes. Congrats.”Her sarcasm caught him off guard. For the first time, he frowned, slightly unsettled. He wasn’t used to this tone from her — the woman who once worshiped him now sounded indifferent, almost mocking.Part 8: His Cruel ArroganceInstead of apologizing, Charles smirked and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Are you mad? I told you when we got married that I didn’t love you. If you’re that unhappy, find someone else to cheat with.” His words cut through her like a blade. It wasn’t just betrayal anymore — it was humiliation. He treated her heartbreak as an inconvenience, as if her pain were irrelevant. Inside, Yolanda’s chest felt like it was being strangled with wire, every breath searing. Yet she stayed silent. Her quietness, once a sign of love, now turned into armor.Part 9: The Memory of InnocenceIn that moment, Yolanda’s mind drifted back to when she first met Charles. She was young, freshly adopted into the Grant family, and he was already the picture of perfection — disciplined, confident, untouchable. Back then, she looked at him with admiration and love. To her, he was everything she aspired to be. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that this same man would someday make her feel worthless. All those years of love, of marriage, of giving — they now felt like a cruel joke.Part 10: A New Beginning Hidden in the Word “Fine”Charles chuckled when she finally said, “Fine.” To him, it was just another empty threat, another outburst that would fade with time. He kissed her cheek, confident that her love would keep her shackled to him forever. What he didn’t realize was that this time, “Fine” wasn’t surrender — it was goodbye. Behind her calm eyes, Yolanda had already made her decision. The love that once bound her had turned to ash, and from that ash, something new was forming — strength.Chapter 1 ends with Yolanda’s quiet determination to take back her life. She won’t cry or beg anymore. This time, she’ll walk away — not as a broken wife, but as a woman reborn through betrayal.